Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and therapeutic effect of radical helical tomotherapy(RHT) combined with concurrent chemotherapy in treating locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer(HPC).
Methods Thirty patients with locally advanced HPC were treated by RHT combined with concurrent chemotherapy.The RHT dosage was as follows: 70 Gy/33 F was used in the pGTVnx+ pGTVnd treatment, 60 Gy/33 F in PTV1, and 54 Gy/33 F in PTV2.Early and late radiation side effects were evaluated against the rating scales of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment.
Results Early side effects(i.e., grades 3 and 4 acute reactions) occurred in 47% of the 30 patients.Late side effects(i.e., grade 3 and higher) were not observed.Among the 30 patients, 2 died during radiotherapy for locoregional hemorrhea.In the other 28 patients, the median of follow-up time was 15.5 months(range = 3–41 months); the one-and two-year local relapse-free, lymph node metastasis-free, distant metastasis-free, and overall survival rates were 63% and 35%, 84% and 61%, 89% and 81%, as well as 58% and 50%, respectively.Treatment failed in 11 cases mainly because of progression of the primary lesion.
Conclusion RHT combined with concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer is well tolerated and rproduces satisfactory clinical outcomes.